1917 ­ Immigration Act (39 Stat. 874) Feb. 5, 1917 Sec. 3 specified, "the
following classes of aliens shall be excluded from admission to
the U.S... persons who are natives of islands not possessed by the
United States adjacent to the Continent of Asia, situated south of
the 20th parallel latitude north, west of the 160th meridian of
longitude east from Greenwich, and north of the 10th parallel of
latitude south, or who are natives of any country, province, or
dependency situated on the Continent of Asia west of the 110th meridian
of longitude east from Greenwich and south of the 50th parallel
of latitude north..." creating what was popularly known as the Asiatic
Barred Zone